Bomb changes life for Marine

Saturday

The words written in ink on U.S. Marine Cpl. Jeffrey Kessler’s arm read like something from a vacationing tourist’s T-shirt: “I had a blast in Afghanistan.”

The tattoo – one among many – includes a rendering of a bomb blast. It evokes the explosion that ripped into Kessler’s body without warning 14 months ago, when he kicked a building door open during a sweep for snipers in Helmand Province.

The down-to-earth humor speaks to the way Kessler, 24, has tried to come to grips with the incident that changed his life since then, even though it claimed both of his legs. It is his wife, Morgan, who has family ties in Gaston County. But she, Kessler and their two young sons have all received a hero’s welcome during their visit here from Maryland in the past week.

“Everybody’s been really nice and supportive,” he said. “It pretty much feels like this is my home.”

Heidi Parks, who lives outside Dallas, grew up with Morgan Kessler’s mother, the former Sandra Williams, and stayed in touch after she moved to Maryland years ago. She had never met Morgan or Jeffrey, but had followed their story since he was injured.

Parks was so moved by the Kesslers’ strength, she left her first grandchild’s birthday party early last Sunday to meet the Marine and his wife during a family reunion they attended.

“They have inspired me so much,” she said. “Jeff is a miracle walking. And Morgan is just 22 years old, but the strength this woman has for her family and husband … it’s just unbelievable.”

High school bond

Jeffrey and Morgan became friends when they were high school freshmen in Maryland. They began dating right before graduation and will have been married four years in November.

Morgan knew of Jeffrey’s goal of becoming a Marine well before they became a couple. She embraced the military lifestyle.

“I loved that he was wanting to do this for me and our family,” she said.

Their son Gavin, now 3, was 13 days old when Jeffrey left for his first deployment in May 2009. He returned within a few months, but deployed for Afghanistan again in February 2011.

Their son Bentley was born in June of that year. Jeffrey had yet to even meet him on July 13, 2011, when Morgan received a phone call from the Marine Corps. She was told he had been seriously injured.

Kessler and a fellow Marine were following orders to clear a building. Kessler’s right leg was blown off when he kicked a door open to the structure. His left leg was also a casualty because it was so badly mangled in the explosion, and he sustained injuries to his left arm and right hand.

"Shrapnel from the blast entered the other Marine’s head, causing damage to his vision and hearing.".

Morgan Kessler was home alone with her children when she learned the news.

“That was probably the hardest thing about it,” she said. “I had to cope with it on my terms and try to explain to my 2-year-old why I was so upset.”

The strides of modern medicine allowed Jeffrey to be stabilized. Within four days, he was flown back to National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., where he began rebuilding his life.

Learning to live again

Jeffrey’s recovery has involved learning to use prosthetic legs. He has a different set for each activity, whether it be biking, running or walking.

The former is important to him because he wants to ride a bicycle like a regular person with his two sons, rather than using one powered by hand pedals.

“It’s basically been like learning how to walk again,” he said. “It took weeks and weeks of going at it and building up the muscle. My youngest was learning how to walk and I was pretty much right there beside him, doing the same thing.”

The hardest aspect of adjusting to his new life has been staying mentally strong. But he knows that’s the biggest key.

“Life has changed and every day is going to be a challenge,” he said.

His family has been his inspiration.

“Everything I did in PT (physical therapy) was focused on them. Every day they’ve had a part in my life,” he said. “I want to be able to walk beside my wife, and walk and run with my kids.”

The last 14 months haven’t been easy, Morgan Kessler said. There have been ups and downs in adjusting to the new realities of their family life. But she often reminds herself how lucky she and her children are to still have a husband and a father.

“There were days he picked me up when I was down,” she said. “I think I’ve been able to get through it for the simple fact that I’ve known he was here and that was all that mattered. And I would take him in any way, shape or form.”

Moving on

The Kesslers have been staying with Morgan’s grandmother, Janice McCummings. They’ll be leaving Tuesday, after another family get-together today.

Jeffrey will soon begin a new job at an Army base in Maryland. As of Saturday, he officially retired from the Marine Corps and became a veteran.

Before long, they’ll have a state-of-the-art home in Maryland. The nonprofit organization Homes for Our Troops is building the Kesslers a specially made, one-story house, to make it easier for Jeffrey to do things without needing assistance.

Facebook friends have followed Jeffrey’s progress and shared his story with others across the country. Morgan said it only makes sense to her.

“I feel like people should know how amazing he is,” she said.

Jeffrey’s thought for others extends to trying to prevent people from feeling uncomfortable or uncertain around him. If he bangs his prosthetic leg on a table, he’s liable to yell “ouch.” When a young boy asked him recently how he lost his legs, he jokingly responded that he hadn’t eaten his vegetables.

“It’s good to have a sense of humor,” he said. “You might as well laugh about it and move on.”

He’s enthusiastic about his future.

“My main focus right now is to just take it one day at a time,” he said. “I’m just being a man right now and taking care of my family.”

You can reach Michael Barrett at 704-869-1826 or on Twitter @GazetteMike.

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